Washington, DC start confirmed for 2012 Giro

Tuttobici is reporting today that the route announcement for the 2012 Giro d’Italia is expected to come tomorrow.

The big news for us here in the states is that the Prologue and first stage of the race will take place in Washington, D.C.

It’s said that the prologue will start near the Lincoln Memorial and cross the Potomac on the Arlington Memorial Bridge. The course will pass by the two huge bronze statues that mark the entrance to the bridge, “Value” and “Sacrifice”. These statues by Leo Friedlander were commissioned in 1925 and donated to America by Italian people in 1951. The course is also expected to pass the Jefferson and Washington monuments, the National Mall and the US Capitol.

The first stage is expected to be a circuit race within the city and will start near the National Archives before passing by the FBI Building, Freedom Plaza, the State Department and other notable sites.

The announcement is expected to come on Thursday at Italy’s embassy in Washington, DC.

Tags: America, Giro d'Italia, Italy